It was October again and time for the major competition organised by the Ulster Coarse Fishing Federation and sponsored by Shakespeare Tackle and with assistance from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Irish Angling Services and Magherafelt District Council.

An early start was called for and the school minibus left Enniskillen at 7.30am with Mr Todd at the wheel.

After the long drive we arrived at 9.30am at St. Mary's College at Clady for the draw. Portora this year was only fielding the one of the 25 competing teams from all schools over the Province. Portora drew Peg No. 3.

Fishing started at 10.30am with 4 hours of angling in prospect. The fishing was good, with many small roach and a few large bream. The weather matched the fishing with blue skies and as warm as a summer's day.

Most of the anglers from each of the 25 competing team landed fish, this is not always the case. At the weigh in the Portora anglers were placed first in two sections, as well as securing a second and a fifth place in the remaining sections.

When applying the standard scoring system applied by the Ulster Coarse Fishing Federation it was Portora who were declared to be the overall winners taking First Place, once again putting Portora back at the top amongst Ulsters angling school; three of the team members were in the team which took first position in the 2002 championships. The School receives an engraved tray and takes the Perpetual Challenge Cup for the year. Each team member also received a commemorative medal, a fishing rod and a voucher for angling supplies to the value of £30.

Second Position was taken by St. Patrick's Downpatrick and the third position by Lurgan College.

Each of the four section winners received a Shakespeare tackle box.

These winners were:-

Section A Richard Mayne of Portora who landed 3.340 Kg

Section B David Cheshire of Portora who landed 2.830 Kg

Section C Colin White of Omagh Academy who landed 2.350 Kg

Section D Chris McClure of Dromore High School who landed 1.260 Kg

The team arrived back at Enniskillen at 7pm after a pleasant but tiring day.
Thanks are due to Mr Todd who must have walked for miles during the day patrolling the banks of the Bann giving encouragment to our anglers.

Thanks are also extended to the organisers and sponsors of this fishing competition.

Three Anglers winning prizes

The winning Team receive their Prizes

Report on the 2004 Coarse Fishing Championship

(9 October 2004)

Enniskillen, situated as it is on the banks of the Erne amidst the loughs of Co. Fermanagh, is a natural place to find anglers. Fishing competitions of international standard are held here annually.Portora Royal School has many keen anglers amongst its pupils who enthusiastically take part in a number of competitions during the Christmas term.

The major competition is that organised by the Ulster Coarse Fishing Federation and sponsored by Shakespeare Tackle and with assistance from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Irish Angling Services and Magherafelt District Council.

This competition was held on October 9th (2004) at Portglenone with a total of 30 teams, each of four anglers, from school across the whole of Northern Ireland taking part. This is an increase over the number of teams competing last year. (Look out for an account of the competition to be held on 8th October 2005)

Portora entered two teams.

Team A comprised of:

DerekCheshire (Captain)

Mark Stafford

Richard Mayne

James Todd

Team B comprised of:

Robert Love

Alex Atwell

Steven Stafford

Stephen Elliott

The weather was mild and overcast but the slight drizzle did nothing to dampen the spirits of the anglers as they arrived at the bank-side. Assistance was given by coaches and officials of the UCFF to assign teams to their fishing pegs; ample supplies of feeders and various bits and pieces supplied by Shakespeare Tackle ensured that all teams caught fish.

Fishing weights were low, however a good variety of fish was landed, including roach, gudgeon, perch and a few bream. After the day's fishing prizes were distributed at a presentation hosted by Magherafelt District Council and held in St. Mary's College at Clady

1st Prize was taken by the Royal School, Armagh with St. Patrick's Downpatrick and Lurgan College taking the 2nd and 3rd prizes. Portora A team was placed 5th overall with the B team coming in at 13th place. Although not taking one of the main team prizes Derek Cheshire was successful in winning first prize in his section with a total catch of 4.16kg.